A 10-year rule. And a High Court that said ‘no’ to an interim plea. Maharashtra’s Cooperative Minister Babasaheb Patil, who has served as a director for over three decades, found himself on the wrong side of RBI’s strict tenure norms; and the Bombay HC agreed. The court refused to grant him relief, upholding the RBI’s decision to remove him under Section 10A(2A)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act. Why? Because the law says ‘no director can hold office continuously for more than 10 years’; and the bench saw no error in applying it retroactively. This isn’t just about one man; it’s about shaking up the entire cooperative banking structure in Maharashtra, where many directors have held power for generations. The message? Governance must evolve; even if it means sidelining loyal, long-serving leaders. The fight isn’t over; the final verdict is still pending; but the signal has been sent clearly: long tenures are no longer acceptable.